Hidden Force Extends Appleby Record In Key Kempton Pointer

Following in the steps of Notable Speech (Dubawi) and Opera Ballo (Ghaiyyath), Godolphin's Hidden Force (Frankel) lived up to expectations in providing Charlie Appleby with a third straight “European Road To The Kentucky Derby” Conditions Stakes at Kempton on Wednesday.

Languid out of the stalls, the chestnut who had won on debut over here in December was allowed to saunter behind his three rivals throughout the early stages before being cajoled upsides soon into the straight. In front a furlong from home, the 1-4 favourite dismissed Venetian Prince (St Mark's Basilica) to score comfortably by 1 1/2 lengths.

“That was a competitive race with horses with proven form from last year and this and so I'm delighted,” William Buick said. “He couldn't do any more and this mile is more to his liking than the seven last time. He's in good company winning this race and he is going to keep improving. I really like what he did there and he's got plenty of pace, so for the moment I'd be content to stay at a mile and when he's on turf then assess his trip.”

🥇 2026 – HIDDEN FORCE
🥇 2025 – Opera Ballo
🥇 2024 – Notable Speech

The @godolphin colt adds his name to an illustrious list of recent winners of the @kemptonparkrace contest for Charlie Appleby and @WilliamBuickX 🔵 pic.twitter.com/omIT388g9D

— Racing TV (@RacingTV) February 25, 2026

The winner is the third foal out of the dam, who was successful in the Listed UAE 1000 Guineas and placed in the G3 Atalanta Stakes and G3 UAE Oaks. She is one of six Stakes winners out of the remarkable Eastern Joy (Dubai Destination) alongside the dual Dubai World Cup-winning bigwig Thunder Snow (Helmet), Shamardal's multiple Group-winning 1,000 Guineas third Ihtimal and the Group 3-winning dam of the yard's ill-fated 2,000 Guineas and St James's Palace hero Coroebus (Dubawi).

Also connected to the Classic heroines Balanchine (Storm Bird) and West Wind (Machiavellian), Winter Lightning who has already produced Dubawi's Listed scorer Dancing Goddess also has a two-year-old full-sister to that performer.

5th-Kempton, £60,000, Cond, 2-25, 3yo, 8f (AWT), 1:39.44, st/sl.
HIDDEN FORCE (GB) (c, 3, Frankel {GB}–Winter Lightning {Ire} {SW & GSP-UAE, GSP-Eng, $249,076}, by Shamardal) Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0, $47,427. O/B-Godolphin; T-Charlie Appleby